Category Archives: Articles by Patricia Walter

Patricia Walter writes articles about hip resurfacing, doctors, post op care, pre-op suggestions and other helpful hints about hip resurfacing. She is the owner and webmaster of Surface Hippy. The website features hip resurfacing information, doctors list, personal stories and a discussion forum called Hip Talk.

Articles About Hip Resurfacing by Patricia Walter

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by
… Read the rest

13 Year Update Patricia Walter’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. De Smet 2006

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My BHR Birmingham Hip Resurfacing has been doing a great job for 13 years and has never caused me any problems. I had my hip resurfacing with Dr. De Smet on March 15, 2006 in Belgium.

I started https://surfacehippy.info in 2005 because I felt people should have information about hip resurfacing. The website has had many updates and design changes, but always provided information and personal stories about hip resurfacing. There have been many changes in hip resurfacing and available devices over the years. The one remaining constant has always been – hip resurfacing is an excellent choice for active people that want to be out of pain and return to their previous activities. The top, experienced hip resurfacing surgeons are still doing hip … Read the rest

Patricia Walter’s Introduction to Hip Resurfacing

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Patricia Walter discusses hip resurfacing and BHR Birmingham Hip Resurfacing she received in 2006 from Dr. De Smet in Belgium. Video recorded March 1, 2008

The first advantage of a hip resurfacing is that the hip device, due to its large size, allows a person to return to any of their favorite activities without restrictions or possibility of a dislocation. The old fashioned total hip replacement devices use a much smaller diameter ball as compared to size of your natural femur bone. The small size of the ball allows a hip to dislocate more easily. The size of the hip resurfacing device is matched very closely to the original size of your hip, so any movements you make are much less likely to cause … Read the rest

Subpoenas Against Surface Hippy – Editorial by Patricia Walter

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An information website like https://surfacehippy.info should not be served subpoenas or be sued.  I truly wonder what is wrong with our world.  If every website providing information was sued, the internet would be a very empty space without any information.

Why would any lawyer think https://surfacehippy.info could possibly tell a person if they were a candidate for hip resurfacing or that they must/should have a hip resurfacing?

I want my readers to know that my website https://surfacehippy.info never tells anyone to have a hip resurfacing. The website provides information about hip resurfacing.  I am not a doctor or medically trained and can’t give medical advice.  Only an experienced hip resurfacing surgeon can do that. I can express my opinion that my BHR, Birmingham Hip Resurfacing … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Why I Chose a Hip Resurfacing

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My hip hurt, my body hurt and I needed a new hip. I had fought hip pain for almost ten years because I just did not want “half my leg bone cut off” to get a new hip replacement. It just did not make sense to me that doctors were still sawing off a big hunk of a femur bone to replace a hip. We sent men to the moon, had nuclear power and every kind of electronic device imaginable, so why are our operations still old-fashioned?

I asked myself that question quite often. One evening while visiting our local tavern, I was telling a gentleman my feelings about total hip replacement. I am not sure how the conversation started, but perhaps I was complaining … Read the rest

I Want a Hip Resurfacing But am Concerned About the Negative Response in the Medical Community

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A new member of the Hip Talk Discussion Group is considering hip resurfacing, but very concerned about the negative press and the medical communities not supporting hip resurfacing.

Patricia Walter, owner of the Surface Hippy Website, responded to his concerns about hip resurfacing in the following article:

Hip Resurfacing is a very special method of replacing a hip. Ever since I began this website in 2005, hip resurfacing has never been widely accepted by the medical community. There might be several reasons for that. One is that hemi-resurfacing which only replaced the femoral portion of the device had very poor success. When full hip resurfacing began, the situation was now metal on metal bearings, not metal on bone bearing surface. So once a procedure received … Read the rest

12 Year Anniversary for Patricia Walter’s BHR by Dr. De Smet March 15, 2006

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My BHR is 12 years old. I have not ever had any problems with it or my hip. The real problem is that it is doing great while the rest of my 73 year old body is wishing it could also get an overhaul. LOL

Hip resurfacing is still a great option when you are a good candidate. There are very few problems with hip resurfacing for most people. There are always a few who do, unfortunately, have problems. Fortunately, there are not many.

The top experienced surgeons who have done thousands of hip resurfacings continue to have excellent results.  Many other surgeons who did not do a large number of hip resurfacings no longer continue to perform the surgery.  It is a difficult surgery … Read the rest

Questions to Ask Your Hip Resurfacing Surgeon

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You should ask your hip resurfacing doctor as many of the questions that seem appropriate for your situation.  Your doctor should be patient, willing to talk about what to expect and answer your questions. Having all your questions answered will give you peace of mind and will make your surgery much less stressful.

Download and print the Questions Here:

https://surfacehippy.info/pdf/Questions-to-ask-hip-resurfacing-surgeon.pdf

Will you perform my hip resurfacing personally or have an assistant do the surgery?

 

How many resurfacings have you done? (not observed or assisted with or including hemi-resurfacings)

 

Where did you train?

 

How many complications have you had?

 

How many resurfacing failures with revision to THR have you had?

 

How many loose acetabular cups have you had? Did they require … Read the rest

About The Surface Hippy Website

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

Patricia Walter Owner/Webmaster of Surface Hippy Website

Patricia Walter Owner/Webmaster of Surface Hippy Website

Hip Resurfacing is very near and dear to my heart and left hip. I believe it is a wonderful alternative to a total hip replacement, if you are a suitable candidate. People with painful hips want to begin living an active life again without pain. They don’t want restrictions to their favorite sports and activities. Hip Resurfacing offers that opportunity to return to a normal active life without the fear of dislocation and other THR restrictions. Hip Resurfacing is also bone conserving. If a revision would be necessary, there is a complete femur bone left for surgery. Those two basic reasons are why I believe in hip resurfacing and have a left resurfaced hip with a BHR (Birmingham … Read the rest

10th Anniversary of my BHR by Patricia Walter Owner/Webmaster

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Today (March 15, 2016) is the 10th anniversary of my BHR (Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Device by Smith and Nephew) surgery.  My BHR is still going strong with no problems at all.  It feels just like my other unoperated hip – normal.

I traveled to Dr. De Smet in Belgium in 2006 because there were not many experienced hip resurfacing surgeons in the US.  Also, I did not have health insurance and could not afford surgery in the US.  Dr. De Smet had performed about 2000 surgeries at that time and was used by many hip patients in the US.  I talked to quite a few of his patients via email and phone.  I also emailed Dr. De Smet and he answered all my questions.… Read the rest

What Equipment Will I Need At Home After Surgery by Patricia Walter

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What Equipment Will I Need At Home After Surgery?

Everyone has slightly different needs. There are some basic items almost everyone needs and then there are things that some people want and others just don’t need.

Must Haves:

Crutches  – Normally crutches are supplied by the hospital.  I used elbow crutches and they are much easier to use than normal under the arm crutches.  Overseas hospitals use elbow crutches while US hospital still normally use old fashioned under the arm crutches.  If you have to be on crutches for a long time, I would suggest getting a pair of elbow  crutches or at least a pair of the more modern underarm crutches available from many internet shopping stores.

Walker – some people that have bi-lateral … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Articles by Patricia Walter

Hip Resurfacing at Surface Hippy Posted on by

Owner and Webmaster of Surface Hippy

I often have people write to me personally for advice and information.  I have been researching hip resurfacing for about four years.  I had my hip resurfaced March 15, 2006 with Dr. De Smet of Belgium. I have formed many opinions along the way. They are only my opinions from what I have read. I am not trained in any medical field, I am a Mechanical Engineer by profession.  So everything I write about is my opinion based on information I have read.

Articles by Patricia Walter

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2nd Annual Hip Resurfacing Course October 24 & 25, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA

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Updated 10/1/2014

I was very honored to attend the 2nd Annual Hip Resurfacing Course in LA on Oct. 24 & 25, 2008.  The course was to teach new surgeons about hip resurfacing and to allow experienced hip resurfacing surgeons to share their experience. Allied medical professionals also attend the course such as physical therapists, surgeons not performing resurfacing and medical device companies. I hardly have enough words to describe the wonderful experience. I spent two intense days learning about every aspect of hip resurfacing.  I attended sessions about approaches to surgery, patient selection, femoral cementing techniques, metal ion issues, learning curve issues, special uses for resurfacing, bioengineering information and many more topics.  I found much of the information fascinating since I am a Mechanical Engineer. … Read the rest

High Metal Ions, Pseudotumors, Metalosis & ALVAL

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Article by Patricia Walter and Hip Resurfacing  Surgeons

Patients and prospective patients are always concerned about the complications that could occur after a hip resurfacing surgery. The typical problems include femur neck fractures, dislocations, loose acetabular cups, improperly positioned acetabular cups, high metal ions, infections, pseudotumors, ALVAL and metalosis.

There has been a lot of discussion among patients on discussion groups about the high metal ion issue and pseudotumors.  I am not a doctor or medically trained.  I am a Patient Advocate, Hip Resurfacing Patient and Mechanical Engineer.  I had the opportunity to attend the  Second Annual U.S. Comprehensive Course on Total Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty October 24–25, 2008 Los Angeles, CA.  I listened to discussions about the metal ion issues and pseudotumors. I am going … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Everyone Recovers At A Different Rate

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Surgery experiences and recovery rates will be different for each person having a hip resurfacing. Many of us were very fortunate to have good experiences in the hospital and have fairly quick recoveries.  I guess we are the Rabbits.

There are people that have experienced very difficult recoveries and their return to a normal life has been very slow.  I guess they are the Turtles.

Some are lucky and have an average recovery which puts them right in the middle of the Rabbits and Turtles – don’t really know what to call them but Average Joes.

There is really no way to predict what your surgery experience will be and what your rate of recovery will be.  I do think that people who are younger … Read the rest

Pool and Water Exercises and Stretches at Surface Hippy

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Listed below are the Pool Exercises that I used to help my stiff muscles after my Hip Resurfacing. These were not given to me by Dr. De Smet, but designed for me by my PT in the US. There were all very gentle and anytime that I started to be in pain, I was to stop. Each exercise or stretch was designed to be done by both legs. I started with 5 repeats of each exercise and gradually added more over the two months of PT until I was doing about 25 repeats of each. Some of the stretching exercises are done for one minute at a time. Then you are to rest or do the other leg and repeat the stretch for another minute.

… Read the rest

Pat’s Corner – Hip Resurfacing is still an excellent option 2012 despite negative media

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I would like to comment, mostly for the people new to hip resurfacing, about the negative NY Times articles and other media against hip resurfacing. All of this information is one sided. The authors and some surgeons have an agenda against hip resurfacing. The retention rate of the BHR and other devices has been recorded and the records are available to the public. The first place to look are the national registries since they are actual statistics, not opinions:

Also watch the video interviews with the top hip resurfacing surgeons. They address all of this negative press and give a complete story to the success of hip resurfacing. Here are my interviews:

All of my recent interviews include the doctors’ responses to the negative press … Read the rest

Pat’s Corner -What if I have a skin allergy to metals?

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Can I have a Hip Resurfacing if I am Allergic To Metals?

Skin allergies to metals does not mean you will be allergic to a hip resurfacing device inside your body at the deep tissue level.  This is a question that many people ask. The best way to know if you can have a hip resurfacing when you have skin allergies to metals is to ask an experienced hip resurfacing surgeon. Dr. Bose has written this explanation about the metal allergy problem: “Allergy after artificial joints is an interesting issue. One must keep in mind that the co-cr-mo alloy has been in clinical use for 45 yrs and is present in 99% of all hip and knee replacement surgery. Even if a component is titanium… Read the rest